"What are we doing today?" Troutpaw asked. "More hunting techniques? Helping the elders - elder? Or battle training?"

Over the past moon, she had learned quite a bit from her mentor. However, her mentor had yet to teach her any battling skills.

"I am going to teach you how to collect moss properly," Minnowshine mewed patiently. "After helping Smallpaw and Leafpaw make new nests, it's about time you learn how to collect fresh moss."

"Okay," Troutpaw sounded disappointed.

"But if there's time, I can teach you some battle techniques," Minnowshine added with a smile.

Troutpaw brightened up. "Okay!" she mewed.

Minnowshine padded out of camp, with Troutpaw padding after her obediently.

The heat from the sun scorched her pelt, and she began to feel thirsty.

"I'm going to have a quick drink," Troutpaw informed her mentor. "I won't be long."

Troutpaw stopped by a small pond, where older kits usually try out how to swim. She had even swam in it herself as a kit.

That was before Hoppaw got injured, Troutpaw recalled. Both of us had so much fun...

She shook her head, unwilling to think of unhappy memories. Instead, she bent down to take a drink from the pool.

Troutpaw sighed as she felt more refreshed on a hot day. Suddenly, the water tasted salty.

"What?" she gasped, staggering backwards. The calm water of the pool turned into blood.

Troutpaw felt her paws trembling. "Minnowshine?" she called feebly.

There was no reply from her mentor. Troutpaw shivered, closing her eyes, hoping it was not real.

The blood was beginning to overflow the pool. It waded at her paws threateningly, warm and sticky.

Unable to stand it any longer, Troutpaw broke into a run. The blood continued to move towards her seemingly hungry to reach her.

"Help!" she cried.

However, not even a bird could be heard. Troutpaw widened her eyes and skidded to a stop. She was surrounded.

"Troutpaw, help me!" the familiar cry of her brother filled her ears.

"Hoppaw!" Troutpaw gasped.

"Help me!" he wailed as he sank under the huge wave of blood.

No...

The clouds above her became darker as the blood slowly waded closer to her. Troutpaw let out a final yowl before sinking into an endless pool of blood.

"Troutpaw? Can you hear me?" Minnowshine mewed.

Troutpaw let out a gasp, throwing up water.

"Are you okay?" Stonestrike asked in concern.

It seems too real... Troutpaw thought, trying to calm herself down.

"What happened?" she managed to ask.

"You fell into the pool," Smallpaw explained. "And you could have drowned if Stonestrike didn't notice you in time."

"T-thanks Stonestrike," Troutpaw stammered.

"We need to take you to Nutberry," he mewed, acknowledging her thanks with a flick of his tail.

"Can you walk?" Minnowshine asked anxiously.

"I think so," Troutpaw mewed weakly.

Slowly, the four cats padded back to camp. Ignoring the questioning stares of their Clanmates, Minnowshine ushered her apprentice inside the medicine cat den.

Nutberry was sorting out the herbs. Without facing them she asked, "What happened?"

"Troutpaw almost drowned," Minnowshine replied.

"Almost drowned?" Nutberry frowned, stopping her work. "You did teach Troutpaw how to swim right?"

"I did," Minnowshine's voice was crisp. "But she just fell into the small pool that we use to teach kits to swim."

As the two she-cats talked, Troutpaw sat near the entrance of the medicine cat den, her normally attentive ears flopped down in thought.

If it was just a dream, why does it seem so real?

"Troutpaw, are you listening?" Nutberry asked.

"What?" Troutpaw mewed, snapping out of her thoughts.

"Never mind," the medicine cat sighed. "I will give you thyme for the shock and a poppy seed to help you sleep. You have to rest."

"Okay," Troutpaw agreed.

Letting out a sigh, she ate the funny and bitter tasting herb and the tiny poppy seed.

The poppy seed did its work and Troutpaw fell asleep on the nest that Nutberry made for her.

~~~~

When she woke up the next day, Hoppaw was beside her nest. "Troutpaw, are you okay?" he asked anxiously.

"Yes," Troutpaw felt much better from the herbs Nutberry gave her.

"Unfortunately, you have to rest," Nutberry mewed. "Tomorrow you can resume your training."

"I'll accompany you!" Hoppaw mewed. "Before Watershadow asks for me."

"Thanks," Troutpaw mewed.

Hoppaw only smiled. "It's only right if I do it for you."